A new security update has been released for Gentoo Linux - Sun JDK/JRE: Applet privilege escalation. Here the announcement:

Gentoo Linux Security Advisory GLSA 200602-07
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http://security.gentoo.org/
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Severity: Normal
Title: Sun JDK/JRE: Applet privilege escalation
Date: February 15, 2006
Bugs: #122156
ID: 200602-07

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Synopsis
========

Sun's Java Development Kit (JDK) and Java Runtime Environment (JRE) do
not adequately constrain applets from privilege escalation and
arbitrary code execution.

Background
==========

Sun's JDK and JRE provide interpreters for Java Applets in a sandboxed
environment. These implementations provide the Java Web Start
technology that can be used for easy client-side deployment of Java
applications.

Affected packages
=================

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Package / Vulnerable / Unaffected
-------------------------------------------------------------------
1 dev-java/sun-jdk < 1.4.2.10 >= 1.4.2.10
2 dev-java/sun-jre-bin < 1.4.2.10 >= 1.4.2.10
-------------------------------------------------------------------
2 affected packages on all of their supported architectures.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Description
===========

Applets executed using JRE or JDK can use "reflection" APIs functions
to elevate its privileges beyond the sandbox restrictions. Adam Gowdiak
discovered five vulnerabilities that use this method for privilege
escalation. Two more vulnerabilities were discovered by the vendor.
Peter Csepely discovered that Web Start Java applications also can an
escalate their privileges.

Impact
======

A malicious Java applet can bypass Java sandbox restrictions and hence
access local files, connect to arbitrary network locations and execute
arbitrary code on the user's machine. Java Web Start applications are
affected likewise.

Workaround
==========

Select another Java implementation using java-config.

Resolution
==========

All Sun JDK users should upgrade to the latest version:

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=dev-java/sun-jdk-1.4.2.10"

All Sun JRE users should upgrade to the latest version:

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=dev-java/sun-jre-bin-1.4.2.10"

References
==========

[ 1 ] Sun Security Alert ID 102170
http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-26-102170-1
[ 2 ] Sun Security Alert ID 102171
http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-26-102171-1
[ 3 ] CVE-2006-0614
http://www.cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2006-0614
[ 4 ] CVE-2006-0615
http://www.cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2006-0615
[ 5 ] CVE-2006-0616
http://www.cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2006-0616
[ 6 ] CVE-2006-0617
http://www.cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2006-0617

Availability
============

This GLSA and any updates to it are available for viewing at
the Gentoo Security Website:

http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200602-07.xml

Concerns?
=========

Security is a primary focus of Gentoo Linux and ensuring the
confidentiality and security of our users machines is of utmost
importance to us. Any security concerns should be addressed to
security@gentoo.org or alternatively, you may file a bug at
http://bugs.gentoo.org.

License
=======

Copyright 2006 Gentoo Foundation, Inc; referenced text
belongs to its owner(s).

The contents of this document are licensed under the
Creative Commons - Attribution / Share Alike license.

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0